Anyone who enjoys police dramas on TV knows that biometrics such as fingerprints and DNA are used to match criminals to crimes. But increasingly, biometrics are being used in public and private arenas to ensure access to computers and buildings, or to authenticate that you are really you when traveling internationally with an e–passport. One day, biometrics may be used to authenticate who you are when banking or buying something on the Internet.

Last week, biometric experts from across the globe have been attending the International Biometric Performance Conference at Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Md. This applied research conference was focused on identifying fundamental, relevant, effective and new performance metrics for biometric systems and determining and sharing best practices for performance evaluation and calibration as they relate to design specifications and day-to-day operations. The goal is for people and computer systems to know reliably who is who.

Biometrics is the science of measuring biological information.That information ranges from DNA, fingerprints and irises, to voice and facial patterns. In the security world, biometrics refers to the technology that allows, for example, a fingerprint reader attached to a security system on a computer to match a user’s print to one stored in the system. Or, the biometric tool can block an imposter trying to access the computer for inappropriate purposes.

Other forms of identification such as token-based identifiers—a driver’s license—or a knowledge-based identifier—a password—are not bound to the individual biologically and therefore not as strongly linked to the person.

“The world’s largest customers and providers of biometric technologies are here to discuss improved capability, functionality and performance of biometric systems,” explained Patrick Grother, a NIST researcher on the conference’s program committee. Many governments are interested in biometric systems that work well together internationally for secure border control, including Canada, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“Biometrics can also provide economic benefits to the citizens in their countries,” said Grother. “For example, India is seeking to use biometric systems to provide state benefits and banking services to its citizens.”

Attendees are discussing the trends that have emerged since its last meeting two years ago—moving to mobile applications, developing national verification systems and keeping up with social media.

The International Biometric Performance Conference meeting was organized by NIST, the U.K.’s National Physical Laboratory and Germany’s Fraunhofer IGD. It was sponsored by two offices of the Department of Homeland Security—the Science and Technology Directorate and US-VISIT, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Anyone who enjoys police dramas on TV knows that biometrics
such as fingerprints and DNA are used to match criminals to crimes. But
increasingly, biometrics are being used in public and private arenas to ensure
access to computers and buildings, or to authenticate that you are really you when
traveling internationally with an e–passport. One day, biometrics may be used
to authenticate who you are when banking or buying something on the Internet.

This week, biometric experts from across the globe have been
attending the International Biometric Performance Conference at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Md. This applied
research conference is focused on identifying fundamental, relevant, effective
and new performance metrics for biometric systems and determining and sharing
best practices for performance evaluation and calibration as they relate to design
specifications and day-to-day operations. The goal is for people and computer
systems to know reliably who is who.

Biometrics is the science of measuring biological
information. That information ranges from DNA, fingerprints and irises, to
voice and facial patterns. In the security world, biometrics refers to the
technology that allows, for example, a fingerprint reader attached to a
security system on a computer to match a user’s print to one stored in the
system. Or, the biometric tool can block an imposter trying to access the
computer for inappropriate purposes.

Other forms of identification such as token-based
identifiers—a driver’s license—or a knowledge-based identifier—a password—are
not bound to the individual biologically and therefore not as strongly linked
to the person.

“The world’s largest customers and providers of biometric
technologies are here to discuss improved capability, functionality and
performance of biometric systems,” explained Patrick Grother, a NIST researcher
on the conference’s program committee. Many governments are interested in
biometric systems that work well together internationally for secure border
control, including Canada, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United
States.

“Biometrics can also provide economic benefits to the citizens
in their countries,” said Grother. “For example, India is seeking to use
biometric systems to provide state benefits and banking services to its
citizens.”

Attendees are discussing the trends that have emerged since
its last meeting two years ago—moving to mobile applications, developing national
verification systems and keeping up with social media.

The International Biometric Performance Conference meeting
was organized by NIST, the U.K.’s National Physical Laboratory and Germany’s
Fraunhofer IGD. It was sponsored by two offices of the Department of Homeland
Security—the Science and Technology Directorate and US-VISIT, and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.